grievous
adjective
griev·ous ˈgrē-vəs 
1
: causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or sorrow
a grievous wound
a grievous loss
2
: oppressive, onerous
grievous costs of war
3
: serious, grave
grievous fault
grievously adverb
grievousness noun
Synonyms
- bitter
- brutal
- burdensome
- cruel
- excruciating
- grim
- hard
- hardhanded
- harsh
- heavy
- inhuman
- murderous
- onerous
- oppressive
- rough
- rugged
- searing
- severe
- stiff
- tough
- trying
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the grievous cost of war He took a foolish financial risk and suffered a grievous loss.
Recent Examples on the Web The most grievous play-calling probably came with just less than 10 minutes left an New England trailing, 20-7. 
Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2022 According to Biden, the GOP election rules are one of the most grievous affronts to our democratic rights ever. Rich Lowry, National Review, 16 July 2021 This is why the reports that people are being compelled to part with their pets are so grievous. Holly Thomas, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022 The House committees on Homeland Security and Oversight and Reform published his letter Tuesday, along with their response accusing Cuffari of delaying their inquiry into one of the most grievous attacks in U.S. history. Maria Sacchetti, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Aug. 2022 When Martha eagerly complies with grievous bodily results, the panicked sister isolates her in a separate wing of the school, lying to staff and students alike about her disappearance. Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Aug. 2022 Despite suffering grievous losses over nearly six months of war, Russia still holds a distinct advantage over Ukraine in a head-to-head fight featuring brutal artillery battles. Marc Santora, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 With Melzer and incarcerated members of the Atomwaffen Division and the Base, those transgressive ideas came dangerously close to grievous real-world consequences. Ali Winston, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2022 Back in that previous life, Sam was recovering from a grievous car accident that crushed his foot, and Sadie was visiting her sister being treated for cancer. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 28 June 2022 See More
Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2022 According to Biden, the GOP election rules are one of the most grievous affronts to our democratic rights ever. Rich Lowry, National Review, 16 July 2021 This is why the reports that people are being compelled to part with their pets are so grievous. Holly Thomas, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022 The House committees on Homeland Security and Oversight and Reform published his letter Tuesday, along with their response accusing Cuffari of delaying their inquiry into one of the most grievous attacks in U.S. history. Maria Sacchetti, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Aug. 2022 When Martha eagerly complies with grievous bodily results, the panicked sister isolates her in a separate wing of the school, lying to staff and students alike about her disappearance. Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Aug. 2022 Despite suffering grievous losses over nearly six months of war, Russia still holds a distinct advantage over Ukraine in a head-to-head fight featuring brutal artillery battles. Marc Santora, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 With Melzer and incarcerated members of the Atomwaffen Division and the Base, those transgressive ideas came dangerously close to grievous real-world consequences. Ali Winston, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2022 Back in that previous life, Sam was recovering from a grievous car accident that crushed his foot, and Sadie was visiting her sister being treated for cancer. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 28 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see grieve
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
grievous
adjective
griev·ous ˈgrē-vəs
1
: causing suffering or pain
a grievous injury
2
: serious sense 2, grave
a grievous error
grievous
adjective
1
as in harsh
difficult to endure the months of chemotherapy seemed almost as grievous an affliction as the cancer itself Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- harsh
- searing
- severe
- oppressive
- tough
- brutal
- cruel
- rough
- painful
- grim
- hard
- burdensome
- excruciating
- trying
- onerous
- heavy
- inhuman
- murderous
- bitter
- bleak
- unpleasant
- rugged
- unbearable
- uncomfortable
- stiff
- bad
- agonizing
- hardhanded
- inhospitable
- intemperate
- forbidding
- intolerable
- overwhelming
- unendurable
- rigorous
- crushing
- comfortless
- strict
- inclement
- discomforting
- wretched
- spartan
- stringent
- heartbreaking
- insufferable
- austere
- disagreeable
- tortuous
- biting
- insupportable
- harrowing
- hostile
- heartrending
- grinding
- wild
- unfriendly
- wearing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- easy
- pleasant
- soft
- agreeable
- comfortable
- luxurious
- friendly
- mild
- hospitable
- genial
- tolerable
- cozy
- peaceful
- moderate
- bearable
- gentle
- restful
- painless
- endurable
- relaxing
- snug
- temperate
- reposeful
- calm
- balmy
- clement
2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally the death of a spouse can be a grievous loss from which one never recovers Synonyms & Similar Words
- painful
- cruel
- harsh
- terrible
- horrible
- severe
- torturous
- hurtful
- excruciating
- agonizing
- bitter
- awful
- dreadful
- unacceptable
- harrowing
- unbearable
- afflicting
- intolerable
- galling
- appalling
- tormenting
- dire
- ghastly
- bad
- vile
- miserable
- unendurable
- heartrending
- acute
- wretched
- insufferable
- insupportable
- intense
- extreme
- nasty
- unsupportable
- rotten
- piercing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sweet
- gratifying
- pleasing
- tolerable
- endurable
- bearable
- sustainable
- supportable
- survivable
- reasonable
- acceptable
- allowable
- sufferable
- livable
- liveable
3
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury a grievous wound that requires a doctor's immediate attention Synonyms & Similar Words
- dangerous
- hazardous
- serious
- perilous
- risky
- unsafe
- grave
- treacherous
- menacing
- precarious
- fatal
- threatening
- unhealthy
- parlous
- unpleasant
- jeopardizing
- random
- destructive
- adverse
- uncertain
- sickening
- venturesome
- detrimental
- harmful
- bad
- deadly
- injurious
- pernicious
- lethal
- wicked
- distressing
- ugly
- hurtful
- murderous
- evil
- malignant
- mortal
- fell
- haphazard
- deleterious
- dire
- nasty
- baneful
- noxious
- chance
- insecure
- ill
- dicey
- killer
- inimical
- fateful
- ultrahazardous
- baleful
- pestilent
- deathly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- innocent
- harmless
- innocuous
- good
- beneficial
- safe
- advantageous
- nonhazardous
- nonthreatening
- unthreatening
- ultrasafe
4
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress the grievous cost of the war in human lives weighed heavily on the president's mind Synonyms & Similar Words
- tragic
- unfortunate
- tragical
- terrible
- lamentable
- regrettable
- distressful
- horrible
- deplorable
- painful
- woeful
- distressing
- shocking
- heartbreaking
- disturbing
- dire
- severe
- unlucky
- dreadful
- awful
- sad
- heartrending
- troublesome
- unsettling
- sickening
- pitiful
- disastrous
- fearful
- miserable
- vexatious
- unbearable
- piteous
- traumatic
- doleful
- affecting
- wretched
- alarming
- horrifying
- intolerable
- poignant
- crushing
- excruciating
- overwhelming
- calamitous
- touching
- moving
- harrowing
- perturbing
- ruthful
- raging
- sharp
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gratifying
- satisfying
- rewarding
- pleasing
- heartening
- comforting
- encouraging
- inspiring
- fortunate
- happy
- heartwarming
- lucky
- cheering